Nutritional evaluation of experimental weaning foods prepared from green leaves, peanut oil, and legume flour

Abstract

Experimental weaning foods were prepared from alfalfa leaves, peanut oil, and mung bean, chickpea or soy flour. The weaning foods were analyzed to determine their yield, proximate composition and amino acid content. Yields from starting materials ranged from 29 to 99%. Highest yields were obtained when 20% legume or oilseed flour was incorporated into leaf protein-peanut oil gels. The moisture content of the weaning foods ranged from 42 to 65%, protein from 3.4 to 6.5%, fat from 23 to 48%, and carbohydrate from 3 to 13%. Proteins in the experimental weaning foods were found to be deficient in the sulfur amino acids. Amino acid scores for weaning foods containing 20% legume or oilseed flour ranged from 50 for mung bean to 62 for soy. It was estimated that a four-ounce daily serving of one of the soy weaning foods would supply 40% of the energy and 35% of the protein needs of a one-year-old infant.